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Türkiye Adopts AKKOR 10 System to Provide 360 Degree Active Protection for Altay and Leopard 2A4 Tanks.
On May 20, 2025, the Turkish company Aselsan confirmed in its annual report that the Turkish Armed Forces had officially added the AKKOR 10 active protection system to their inventory. Designed to physically neutralize threats such as guided anti-tank missiles, this hard-kill system, developed and produced domestically, is now operational on Türkiye’s main battle tanks (MBTs), notably the ALTAY. Its adoption marks a significant step in enhancing the survivability of Turkish armored vehicles in environments increasingly threatened by advanced anti-tank weaponry. The integration of AKKOR 10 responds to a need for greater battlefield resilience as anti-tank arsenals become more sophisticated.
This rapid-response mechanism, combined with full 360-degree coverage and the ability to counter multiple threats simultaneously, ensures effective protection against rockets, shaped-charge rounds, and guided missiles, including top-attack munitions. (Picture source: BMC Defence)
Work is ongoing to equip not only serial-production ALTAY tanks but also modernized Leopard 2A4s operated by the Turkish Armed Forces. Additionally, a separate contract signed in 2024 foresees the first integration of the AKKOR 10 system on a platform other than a main battle tank, expanding its applicability to a broader range of armored vehicles. AKKOR combines hard-kill and soft-kill functions within a complete electronic warfare suite. It features a network of high-resolution perimeter radars capable of detecting incoming projectiles in real time. Upon identifying a threat, the system automatically launches a defensive munition that detonates near the projectile to destroy it via fragmentation. This rapid-response mechanism, combined with full 360-degree coverage and the ability to counter multiple threats simultaneously, ensures effective protection against rockets, shaped-charge rounds, and guided missiles, including top-attack munitions.
In parallel, the soft-kill component includes laser warning sensors and multispectral munitions designed to disrupt laser- and infrared-guided targeting systems through the deployment of intelligent smoke screens. The AKKOR system is fully autonomous and operational under harsh environmental conditions—rain, dust, snow, or mud—without relying on exposed optical sensors. Its modularity allows integration across a variety of platforms, from heavy tanks to lighter armored vehicles, such as those envisioned under the ongoing development of the AKKOR KAMA variant, which remains in testing.
Within the current technological landscape, the Turkish system positions itself as a peer to other leading active protection systems. For instance, the Israeli Trophy system, deployed for over a decade on Merkava tanks and some U.S. Abrams variants, has demonstrated battlefield effectiveness but carries a higher risk of collateral damage due to its countermeasure design. The Russian Arena-M system, although more dated, remains limited in countering modern threats, while Elbit’s Iron Fist offers a lighter configuration but has seen limited deployment. AKKOR 10 stands out with its dual-layer defense architecture, its ability to intercept top-attack threats, low secondary lethality, and platform versatility. It is one of the few systems that combine comprehensive protection with a modular structure capable of withstanding operational constraints.
Integrating AKKOR 10 into Türkiye’s military addresses several critical challenges. Industrially, it demonstrates growing technological autonomy by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for high-value defense capabilities. Militarily, it significantly improves crew survivability against asymmetric threats, particularly in conflict zones where portable anti-tank weapons, whether drone-deployed or ambush-launched, are prevalent. The system fits into a broader shift toward a more agile and resilient combat doctrine, aiming to reduce casualties while maintaining tactical mobility. Furthermore, the adoption of AKKOR 10 enhances the international competitiveness of the Turkish defense industry. The combination of the ALTAY MBT with a domestically developed APS could appeal to partner nations seeking integrated and turnkey solutions to modernize their armored fleets.
The AKKOR program was launched in 2008 alongside the development of the ALTAY tank. The system achieved its first successful intercept in 2010, and qualification tests supervised by the Ministry of Defense procurement agency in 2024 validated its performance against representative modern threats. A €54 million contract signed in 2015 enabled the initial production of components for early ALTAY units. Elements of the system have also been observed on prototypes of modernized Leopard 2A4s, illustrating the concrete progress of integration efforts.
With the AKKOR 10 system now entering service, Türkiye joins a limited group of nations capable of designing and manufacturing a new-generation active protection system. This technological development provides Ankara with a strategic advantage in land defense while reinforcing the country’s industrial autonomy. The adoption of AKKOR 10 reflects Türkiye’s intention to equip its mechanized forces with tools adapted to contemporary asymmetric threats, and opens potential for exports to international markets seeking to upgrade their armored capabilities.